Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder is set to return after two months out with a thigh injury to play in Sunday's eagerly anticipated Milan derby.
AC Milan lead Juventus by goal difference at the top of Serie A but they face a serious test from Inter, who have won their last five matches.
Inter coach Claudio Ranieri said: "Milan have more to lose because they are fighting for the title.
"We will try to win but what's important is to have a lively game."
Inter have surged up the table to fifth place, eight points behind the top two, but Milan are also on a long unbeaten run, dating back to their only league defeat of the season against Juve on 2 October.
Sneijder's return to action will be a further boost for Inter, who have been rejuvenated since Ranieri's arrival at the end of September.
But Milan were also given a lift in the build-up to the game when striker Alexandre Pato committed his future to the Rossoneri after speculation he was set to join Paris St Germain.
That added a twist to the race to sign Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, with Inter president Massimo Moratti conceding defeat hours before Milan abandoned negotiations with City, apparently following Pato's decision to stay.
The Tevez saga has added extra spice to the clash at the San Siro, where Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri will try to defend a 100% winning record against his neighbours.
Milan have won the last three derby matches in all competitions, with former Inter hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring in two of them.
According to Allegri, the Swedish striker is one of the most charged up players in his squad ahead of the weekend clash.
"Gennaro Gattuso incarnates the spirit of the derby,'' Allegri said. "And then there's the hard core, Alessandro Nesta and Massimo Ambrosini, as well as of course Ibrahimovic in that how he also looks at the game as an ex-Inter player.
"Sometimes I even get angry with Zlatan. He loves the battle because he likes being stimulated. He gets very angry with the others, but also with himself.''
